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US6962082B2 - Device and method for acoustic diagnosis and measurement by pulse electromagnetic force - Google Patents
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US6962082B2 - Device and method for acoustic diagnosis and measurement by pulse electromagnetic force - Google Patents

Device and method for acoustic diagnosis and measurement by pulse electromagnetic force Download PDF

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Publication number
US6962082B2
US6962082B2 US10/416,153 US41615303A US6962082B2 US 6962082 B2 US6962082 B2 US 6962082B2 US 41615303 A US41615303 A US 41615303A US 6962082 B2 US6962082 B2 US 6962082B2
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conductor
acoustic
pulse
waveform
coil
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US20040025593A1 (en
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Mitsuo Hashimoto
Masanori Takanabe
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Amic Co Ltd
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Amic Co Ltd
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N29/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves; Visualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object
    • G01N29/44—Processing the detected response signal, e.g. electronic circuits specially adapted therefor
    • G01N29/46—Processing the detected response signal, e.g. electronic circuits specially adapted therefor by spectral analysis, e.g. Fourier analysis or wavelet analysis
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N17/00—Investigating resistance of materials to the weather, to corrosion, or to light
    • G01N17/006—Investigating resistance of materials to the weather, to corrosion, or to light of metals
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N29/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves; Visualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object
    • G01N29/22—Details, e.g. general constructional or apparatus details
    • G01N29/24—Probes
    • G01N29/2412—Probes using the magnetostrictive properties of the material to be examined, e.g. electromagnetic acoustic transducers [EMAT]
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
    • G01N33/38—Concrete; Lime; Mortar; Gypsum; Bricks; Ceramics; Glass
    • G01N33/383—Concrete or cement
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N2291/00—Indexing codes associated with group G01N29/00
    • G01N2291/01—Indexing codes associated with the measuring variable
    • G01N2291/015—Attenuation, scattering
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N2291/00—Indexing codes associated with group G01N29/00
    • G01N2291/02—Indexing codes associated with the analysed material
    • G01N2291/024—Mixtures
    • G01N2291/02458—Solids in solids, e.g. granules
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N2291/00—Indexing codes associated with group G01N29/00
    • G01N2291/02—Indexing codes associated with the analysed material
    • G01N2291/025—Change of phase or condition
    • G01N2291/0255—(Bio)chemical reactions, e.g. on biosensors
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N2291/00—Indexing codes associated with group G01N29/00
    • G01N2291/02—Indexing codes associated with the analysed material
    • G01N2291/028—Material parameters
    • G01N2291/02827—Elastic parameters, strength or force
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N2291/00—Indexing codes associated with group G01N29/00
    • G01N2291/02—Indexing codes associated with the analysed material
    • G01N2291/028—Material parameters
    • G01N2291/02854—Length, thickness
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N2291/00—Indexing codes associated with group G01N29/00
    • G01N2291/04—Wave modes and trajectories
    • G01N2291/042—Wave modes
    • G01N2291/0423—Surface waves, e.g. Rayleigh waves, Love waves
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N2291/00—Indexing codes associated with group G01N29/00
    • G01N2291/10—Number of transducers
    • G01N2291/102—Number of transducers one emitter, one receiver

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an acoustic diagnosis/measurement apparatus using a pulse of electromagnetic force for diagnosing/measuring a structure including a conductor and a non-conductive material covering the conductor, and a method of diagnosing/measuring such a structure, in particular, in terms of corrosion or adhesion of a reinforcing iron rod in reinforced concrete, the location of the reinforcing iron rod, the diameter of the reinforcing iron rod, presence/absence of a fracture in the reinforcing iron rod, or the location of the fracture, or in terms of the location of a water pipe buried in the ground, or in terms of whether a conductor is securely bound by a binding member.
  • radiography for taking an X-ray image of a structure placed between an X-ray generator and a film
  • ultrasonic diagnosis in which an ultrasonic wave is generated by an ultrasonic generator placed on the surface of concrete and diagnosis/measurement is performed on the basis of detection of a reflected ultrasonic wave
  • a percussion method in which diagnosis/measurement is performed on the basis of an echo detected after tapping a surface of a structure with a hammer or the like
  • an infrared imaging method in which a surface of a structure is illuminated with an infrared ray
  • a microwave method in which a surface of a structure is illuminated with a microwave.
  • an ultrasonic wave is applied to the surface of reinforced concrete, and the location of a reinforcing iron rod is determined from an ultrasonic wave reflected from the reinforcing iron rod.
  • the concrete includes gravel and a large number of non-continuous parts created by bubbles or the like, which cause the ultrasonic wave to be attenuated or scattered and thus make it difficult to perform analysis.
  • the infrared imaging method and also in the microwave method because the infrared ray or the microwave is greatly attenuated by concrete, measurement is possible only in a region near the surface of a structure.
  • a method of diagnosing corrosion it is known to detect an acoustic wave generated by elastic energy released when a structure is deformed or cracked and analyze the detected acoustic wave to determine the degree of corrosion of the structure.
  • This method is known as an acoustic diagnosis method. More specifically, an acoustic emission (AE) sensor is attached to a structure and the output of the AE sensor is monitored over a long period of time to detect an acoustic emission which occurs accidentally and suddenly due to stress corrosion cracking.
  • AE acoustic emission
  • a first object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for diagnosing or measuring, non-destructively and precisely, a structure including a conductor and a non-conductive material covering the conductor in terms of the degree of corrosion, the adhesive strength, the cover depth, and the diameter of the conductor.
  • a specific example is an apparatus for non-destructively diagnosing or measuring the degree of corrosion of reinforcing iron rods in reinforced concrete, the strength of adhesion between reinforcing iron rods and concrete, and/or the cover depth or the diameter of reinforcing iron rods in concrete.
  • a second object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for non-destructively and precisely measuring the location of a concoctor in a structure including the conductor and a non-conductive material covering the conductor.
  • a specific example is an apparatus for non-destructively and precisely measuring the location of reinforcing iron rods in reinforced concrete.
  • a third object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for diagnosing or measuring, in detail, the degree of corrosion, the adhesion strength, and/or the location of a conductor in a structure including the conductor and a non-conductive material covering the conductor, on the basis of a distribution of small vibrations over the entire surface and a propagation mode of vibrations.
  • a specific example is an apparatus for non-destructively diagnosing or measuring the degree of corrosion of reinforcing iron rods in reinforced concrete, the strength of adhesion between reinforcing iron rods and concrete, and/or the location of reinforcing iron rods in concrete.
  • a fourth object of the present invention is to provide a method of non-destructively and precisely diagnosing or measuring the degree of corrosion and/or the adhesion strength of a conductor in a structure including the conductor and a non-conductive material covering the conductor.
  • a specific example is a method of non-destructively diagnosing or measuring the degree of corrosion of reinforcing iron rods in reinforced concrete and/or the strength of adhesion between reinforcing iron rods and concrete.
  • a firth object of the present invention is to provide a method of non-destructively and precisely measuring the location of a conductor in a structure including the conductor and a non-conductive material covering the conductor.
  • a specific example is a method of non-destructively measuring the location of reinforcing iron rods in reinforced concrete.
  • a sixth object of the present invention is to provide a method of non-destructively and precisely measuring the location of a conductor in a structure including the conductor and a non-conductive material covering the conductor.
  • a specific example is a method of non-destructively diagnosing or measuring, in detail, the degree of corrosion of reinforcing iron rods in reinforced concrete, the strength of adhesion between reinforcing iron rods and concrete, and/or the location of reinforcing iron rods in concrete, on the basis of a distribution of small vibrations over the entire surface and a propagation mode of vibrations.
  • a seventh object of the present invention is to provide a method of measuring the diameter or the cover depth of a conductor in a structure including the conductor and a non-conductive material covering the conductor.
  • a specific example is a method of measuring the diameter or the cover depth of reinforcing iron rods in reinforced concrete.
  • An eighth object of the present invention is to provide a method of diagnosing or measuring whether conductors bound with each other via a binding member are in a state in which the conductors are securely bound by the binding member.
  • a specific example is a method of diagnosing or measuring whether iron plates bound with each other via a bolt and a nut are in a state in which the iron plates are securely bound by the bolt and the nut.
  • a ninth object of the present invention is to provide a method of non-destructively and precisely diagnosing or measuring the location of a conductor embedded in a non-conductive material.
  • a specific example is a method of diagnosing or measuring the location of a water pipe or a gas pipe buried under the ground.
  • a tenth object of the present invention is to provide a method of non-destructively and precisely diagnosing or measuring a structure including a conductor and a non-conductive material covering the conductor as to whether the conductor has a fracture.
  • a specific example is a method of determining whether a bridge, an electric pole, or a railroad tie, which are made of prestressed concrete, has a fracture and/or measuring the location of such a fracture.
  • the present invention provides an acoustic diagnosis/measurement apparatus using a pulse of electromagnetic force, comprising a coil attached to a surface of a structure including a conductor and a non-conductive material covering the conductor; a power supply unit for supplying a current pulse to the coil; an acoustic transducer attached to the surface of the structure or to a part of the conductor, the part being separated from the non-conductive material; and a measurement unit for measuring an output waveform of the acoustic transducer, whereby corrosion of the conductor, adhesion strength of the conductor, the cover depth of the conductor, and/or the diameter of the conductor are diagnosed or measured.
  • an acoustic wave is generated from an acoustic wave source at the location of the reinforcing iron rod directly excited by the magnetic field pulse and the acoustic wave propagates through the structure to the surface thereof.
  • the acoustic wave propagating to the surface of the structure varies depending on the degree of corrosion and/or adhesion of the reinforcing iron rod. Therefore, by analyzing the acoustic waveform, it is possible to diagnose or measure the degree of corrosion and the adhesion strength.
  • the amplitude of the acoustic waveform also varies depending on the diameter of the reinforcing iron rod and the cover depth of the reinforcing iron rod. If the depth of the reinforcing iron rod is known, the diameter of the reinforcing iron rod can be determined. Conversely, if the diameter of the reinforcing iron rod is known, the cover depth can be determined.
  • the reinforcing iron rod is directly excited by the magnetic field pulse, a very large acoustic waveform can be obtained compared with that obtained in the conventional technique in which an ultrasonic wave generated by an ultrasonic source is reflected from the reinforcing iron rod. Furthermore, in this technique according to the present invention, unlike the conventional percussion method, the degree of corrosion, the strength of adhesion, the cover depth, and/or the diameter of the reinforcing iron rod can be diagnosed or measured non-destructively in a highly reliable fashion.
  • the present invention also provides an acoustic diagnosis/measurement apparatus using a pulse of electromagnetic force, comprising a coil attached to a surface of a structure including a conductor and a non-conductive material covering the conductor; a power supply unit for supplying a current pulse to the coil; a plurality of acoustic transducers attached at different locations on the surface of the structure; and a measurement unit for measuring acoustic propagation delays from outputs of the acoustic transducers, whereby the location of the conductor is measured.
  • an acoustic wave is generated from an acoustic wave source at the location of the reinforcing iron rod directly excited by the magnetic field pulse and the acoustic wave propagates through the structure to the surface thereof.
  • the location of the reinforcing iron rod can be precisely determined non-destructively.
  • the present invention provides an acoustic diagnosis/measurement apparatus using a pulse of electromagnetic force, comprising a coil attached to a surface of a structure including a conductor and a non-conductive material covering the conductor; a power supply unit for supplying a current pulse to the coil; and a displacement detector for optically measuring displacement of the surface of the structure thereby measuring a vibration of the surface of the structure; whereby the location of the conductor, corrosion of the conductor, and/or adhesion strength of the conductor are diagnosed or measured.
  • an acoustic wave is generated from an acoustic wave source at the location of the reinforcing iron rod directly excited by the magnetic field pulse and the acoustic wave propagates through the structure to the surface thereof.
  • the acoustic transducer is an element for converting an acoustic signal into an electric signal, selected from a group consisting of an acoustic emission sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a microphone.
  • the displacement detector may be a laser interferometer for illuminating a surface of the structure with a coherent laser beam and detecting a phase difference as an interference pattern of a reflected laser beam, the phase difference varying depending on a vibration of a surface of the structure.
  • the coil may be a single coil or may include a plurality of subcoils. In the case in which a plurality of subcoils are used, the plurality of subcoils are disposed coaxially such that adjacent coils are in close contact with each other.
  • the power supply unit may include charge storage capacitors connected in series to the respective subcoils and a power source connected, via a common switch and in parallel, to each series connection of one subcoil and one capacitor, whereby a current pulse is applied to subcoils by turning on the common switch thereby generating a magnetic field pulse.
  • the inductance of each of subcoils forming the coil is smaller than is in the case in which the coils is formed of a single coil, and the capacitor of each charge storage capacitor can be reduced.
  • This makes it possible to reduce the time constant of a current pulse which flows through each subcoil in response to turning on the common switch.
  • the magnetic field pulses generated by the subcoils are superimposed, and thus it is possible to generate an overall magnetic field pulse having a large crest value and a small pulse width.
  • the capability of generating a magnetic field pulse with a large crest value and a small pulse width makes it possible to strongly excite a reinforcing iron rod, which allows diagnosis/measurement to be performed non-destructively in a high reliable fashion.
  • the measurement unit for measuring the output waveform may measure the output waveform in the time domain, display the measured output waveform, extract a feature associated with corrosion and/or adhesion from the waveform in the time domain, and display the extracted feature, or may calculate a waveform in the frequency domain, that is, a frequency spectrum, by performing a Fourier transform on the original output waveform, display the calculated waveform in the frequency domain, extract a feature associated with corrosion and/or adhesion from the waveform in the frequency domain, and display information associated with the corrosion and/or adhesion.
  • This measurement unit is capable of instantly performing diagnosis/measurement of corrosion and/or corrosion from the waveform in the time domain or frequency domain.
  • the feature extracted from the waveform in the time domain may be a pattern, a shape factor, or a crest factor of the waveform in the time domain, and the displaying of information associated with the corrosion and/or adhesion may include comparing the form factor or the crest factor with a predetermined threshold value and displaying whether or not there is a problem in terms of the corrosion and/or the adhesion.
  • the shape factor and the crest factor vary sensitively depending on corrosion and/or adhesion, and thus it is possible to easily detect corrosion and/or adhesion from the shape factor and the crest factor.
  • the measured shape factor or crest factor is compared with a predetermined threshold value, and information whether there is a problem in terms of corrosion/adhesion is displayed. Thus, any user can correctly perform diagnosis/measurement without having to have a high skill.
  • the feature extracted from the waveform in the time domain may be a similarity factor extracted from the shape of the envelope curve of the waveform in the time domain, and the displaying of information associated with the corrosion and/or adhesion may include comparing the similarity factor with a predetermined threshold value and displaying whether or not there is a problem in terms of the corrosion and/or the adhesion.
  • the feature extracted from the waveform in the time domain may be a normalized waveform obtained by dividing each value of the waveform in the time domain by the effective value of the waveform in the time domain or a waveform obtained by exponentiation of the normalized waveform.
  • the feature of the original waveform becomes clearer.
  • the feature of the original waveform becomes further clearer by exponentiation. Thus, it becomes possible to perform high-sensitive diagnosis/measurement.
  • the similarity factor may be extracted from the envelope curve of the normalized waveform and compared with a predetermined threshold value. Depending on the comparison result, information indicating whether or not there is a problem in terms of the corrosion and/or the adhesion may be displayed.
  • the similarity factor is determined from the normalized waveform, it becomes possible for any user to easily perform correct diagnosis/measurement in a further sensitive fashion.
  • the feature extracted from the waveform in the frequency domain may be a waveform pattern in the frequency domain, and the displaying of information associated with the corrosion and/or adhesion may include comparing the waveform pattern with a predetermined pattern, and displaying whether or not there is a problem in terms of the corrosion and/or the adhesion.
  • the feature extracted from the waveform in the frequency domain may be a normalized waveform obtained by dividing each value of the waveform in the frequency domain by the effective value of the waveform in the time domain or a waveform obtained by the exponentiation of the normalized waveform, and the displaying of information associated with the corrosion and/or adhesion may include extracting the similarity factor from the envelope curve of the normalized waveform, comparing the similarity factor with a predetermined threshold value, and displaying whether or not there is a problem in terms of the corrosion and/or the adhesion.
  • the waveform in the frequency domain is very sensitive to the degree of corrosion and/or adhesion strength. If this waveform in the frequency domain is normalized by dividing each value of the waveform in the frequency domain by the effective value, the feature of the original waveform is emphasized in the resultant normalized waveform. Thus, highly sensitive diagnosis/measure of corrosion/adhesion is possible. Furthermore, if the similarity factor is determined from the normalized waveform, high-sensitive and high-reliability diagnosis/measurement is possible. The measured similarity factor is compared with a predetermined threshold value, and information whether there is a problem in terms of corrosion/adhesion is displayed. Thus, any user can correctly perform diagnosis/measurement without having to have a high skill.
  • the displacement detector may be a laser interferometer for illuminating a surface of the structure with a coherent laser beam and detecting a phase difference as an interference pattern of a reflected laser beam, the phase difference varying depending on a vibration of a surface of the structure.
  • the present invention also provides a method of acoustic diagnosis/measurement using a pulse of electromagnetic force, comprising the steps of attaching a coil to a surface of a structure including a conductor and a non-conductive material covering the conductor; applying a current pulse to the coil thereby generating a magnetic field pulse; inducing an eddy current in the conductor by the magnetic field pulse; oscillating the conductor by interaction between the eddy current and the magnetic field pulse thereby generating an acoustic wave; converting an acoustic signal of the acoustic wave into an electric signal by using an acoustic transducer attached to the surface of the structure or attached to a part of the conductor, the part of the conductor being separated from the non-conductive material; and measuring the waveform of the electric signal to perform diagnosis and/or measurement in terms of corrosion and/or adhesion of the conductor.
  • an acoustic wave is generated from an acoustic wave source at the location of the reinforcing iron rod directly excited by the magnetic field pulse and the acoustic wave propagates through the structure to the surface thereof.
  • the acoustic wave propagating to the surface of the structure varies depending on the degree of corrosion and/or adhesion of the reinforcing iron rod. Therefore, by analyzing the acoustic waveform, it is possible to diagnosing or measuring the degree of corrosion and the adhesion strength.
  • the reinforcing iron rod is directly oscillated by the magnetic field pulse, a very large acoustic waveform can be obtained compared with that obtained in the conventional technique in which an ultrasonic wave generated by an ultrasonic source is reflected from the reinforcing iron rod.
  • the degree of corrosion, the strength of adhesion, the cover depth, and/or the diameter of the reinforcing iron rod can be diagnosed or measured non-destructively.
  • the present invention also provides a method of acoustic diagnosis/measurement using a pulse of electromagnetic force, comprising the steps of attaching a coil to a surface of a structure including a conductor and a non-conductive material covering the conductor; applying a current pulse to the coil thereby generating a magnetic field pulse; inducing an eddy current in the conductor by the magnetic field pulse; oscillating the conductor by interaction between the eddy current and the magnetic field pulse thereby generating an acoustic wave; converting an acoustic signal of the acoustic wave into electric signals by using a plurality of acoustic transducers attached at different locations on the surface of the structure; and measuring propagation delay times of the acoustic wave corresponding to the respective electric signals; and measuring the location of the conductor on the basis of the propagation delay times.
  • an acoustic wave is generated from an acoustic wave source at the location of the reinforcing iron rod directly excited by the magnetic field pulse and the acoustic wave propagates through the structure to the surface thereof.
  • the location of the reinforcing iron rod can be precisely determined non-destructively.
  • the present invention also provides a method of acoustic diagnosis/measurement using a pulse of electromagnetic force, comprising the steps of attaching a coil to a surface of a structure including a conductor and a non-conductive material covering the conductor; applying a current pulse to the coil thereby generating a magnetic field pulse; inducing an eddy current in the conductor by the magnetic field pulse; oscillating the conductor by interaction between the eddy current and the magnetic field pulse thereby generating an acoustic wave; detecting an optical displacement corresponding to a surface vibration of the structure generated by the acoustic wave thereby diagnosing the location of the conductor and the state of the structure.
  • an acoustic wave is generated from an acoustic wave source at the location of the reinforcing iron rod directly excited by the magnetic field pulse and the acoustic wave propagates through the structure to the surface thereof.
  • the present invention also provides a method of acoustic diagnosis/measurement using a pulse of electromagnetic force, comprising the steps of disposing a coil on a surface of a non-conductive material covering a conductor; applying a current pulse to the coil thereby generating a magnetic field pulse; inducing an eddy current in the conductor by the magnetic field pulse; oscillating the conductor by interaction between the eddy current and the magnetic field pulse thereby generating an acoustic wave; converting an acoustic signal of the acoustic wave into an electric signal by using an acoustic transducer attached to the surface of the structure; and measuring the waveform of the electric signal to measure the diameter of the conductor or measure the cover depth of the conductor.
  • the amplitude of the acoustic waveform varies depending on the diameter of the reinforcing iron rod and the cover depth of the reinforcing iron rod. If the depth of the reinforcing iron rod is known, the diameter of the reinforcing iron rod can be determined. Conversely, if the diameter of the reinforcing iron rod is known, the cover depth can be determined.
  • the present invention also provides a method of acoustic diagnosis/measurement using a pulse of electromagnetic force, comprising the steps of disposing a coil at a location exactly above a connecting part of a plurality of conductors bound with each other via a binding member; applying a current pulse to the coil thereby generating a magnetic field pulse; inducing an eddy current in a conductor facing the coil by the magnetic field pulse; oscillating the conductor by interaction between the eddy current and the magnetic field pulse thereby generating an acoustic wave; converting an acoustic signal of the acoustic wave into an electric signal by using an acoustic transducer attached to the conductor facing the coil and by using an acoustic transducer attached to another conductor bound with the former conductor; and comparing the waveform of the electric signal output by the acoustic transducer attached to the conductor facing the coil with the waveform of the electric signal output by the acoustic transducer attached to the other conductor
  • the magnitude of a vibration propagating into the conductor from the other conductor facing the coil varies depending on the fastening degree.
  • the fastening degree can be diagnosed or measured. This method is useful in particular when a set of a bolt and a nut is used as the binding member.
  • the present invention also provides a method of acoustic diagnosis/measurement using a pulse of electromagnetic force, comprising the steps of disposing a coil on a surface of a non-conductive material covering a conductor; applying a current pulse to the coil thereby generating a magnetic field pulse; inducing an eddy current in the conductor by the magnetic field pulse; oscillating the conductor by interaction between the eddy current and the magnetic field pulse thereby generating an acoustic wave; converting an acoustic signal of the acoustic wave into an electric signal by using an acoustic transducer attached to a part of the conductor, the part of the conductor being separated from the non-conductive material; changing the location of the coil disposed on the surface of the non-conductive material; and measuring a change in the electric signal caused by the change in the location of the coil there by measuring the location of the conductor.
  • the conductor is oscillated most strongly when the coil comes to a location closest to the conductor.
  • the location of the conductor can be diagnosed or measured. This method is useful in particular when the conductor is an underground water pipe or gas pipe.
  • the present invention also provides a method of acoustic diagnosis/measurement using a pulse of electromagnetic force, comprising the steps of attaching a coil to a surface of a structure including a conductor and a non-conductive material covering the conductor; applying a current pulse to the coil thereby generating a magnetic field pulse; inducing an eddy current in the conductor by the magnetic field pulse; oscillating the conductor by interaction between the eddy current and the magnetic field pulse thereby generating an acoustic wave; converting an acoustic signal of the acoustic wave into an electric signal by using an acoustic transducer attached to a part of the conductor, the part of the conductor being separated from the non-conductive material; and diagnosing whether the conductor has a fracture, on the basis of the strength of the electric signal and, if necessary, diagnosing the location of the fracture of the conductor by changing the location of the coil disposed on the surface of the structure and measuring a change in the electric signal caused by the change in the
  • an acoustic signal propagating through a reinforcing iron rod is attenuated by a fracture, and thus it is possible to detect whether or not there is a fracture. Furthermore, if a change in attenuation is measured while changing the location of the coil disposed on the surface of a structure, it is possible to detect the location of the fracture.
  • This method is useful in particular when the structure is made of prestressed concrete, such as a bridge, an electric pole, or a railroad tie made of prestressed concrete.
  • the present invention it is possible to non-destructively and precisely diagnose/measure not only the location of an reinforcing iron rod in concrete but also corrosion, adhesion strength, and/or rust of the reinforcing iron rod and further a separation or a crack of concrete in diagnosis/measurement of a structure made of reinforced concrete, such as a tunnel, a bridge, a building, a retaining wall, a dam, or a civil construction.
  • a structure made of reinforced concrete such as a tunnel, a bridge, a building, a retaining wall, a dam, or a civil construction.
  • the cover depth and/or the diameter of a reinforcing iron rod can also be measured.
  • FIGS. 1 ( a ) and 1 ( b ) are conceptual diagrams showing the embodiment of the acoustic diagnosis/measurement apparatus using a pulse of electromagnetic force according to claim 1 of the present invention and the method therefor,
  • FIG. 1 ( a ) shows a manner in which an acoustic transducer is attached to a surface of concrete
  • FIG. 1 ( b ) shows a manner in which the acoustic transducer is attached to an exposed part of an iron rod.
  • FIGS. 2 ( a ) and 2 ( b ) are diagrams showing the shape of a test sample of reinforced concrete used herein in the first example and also showing a measurement system, wherein FIG. 2 ( a ) is a plan view and FIG. 2 ( b ) is a side view thereof.
  • FIGS. 3 ( a ) and 3 ( b ) are diagrams showing measured acoustic waveforms, wherein an acoustic waveform observed for the normal block is shown in FIG. 3 ( a ) and an acoustic waveform observed for the cracked block is shown in FIG. 3 ( b ).
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an acoustic diagnosis/measurement apparatus using a pulse of electromagnetic force according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 ( a ) to 5 ( c ) show the surface shape of reinforced concrete used in an embodiment and a method of producing the reinforced concrete, wherein FIG. 5 ( a ) shows the surface shape of the reinforced concrete, FIG. 5 ( b ) shows an outer frame used to produce the reinforced concrete, and FIG. 5 ( c ) shows the external appearance of produced reinforced concrete.
  • FIG. 6 is a diagram showing propagation delay times in the reinforced concrete, measured at different distances from the acoustic wave source.
  • FIG. 7 is a graph showing a manner in which the velocity of an acoustic wave propagating through concrete is determined from propagation delay times measured at various distances from an acoustic wave source.
  • FIG. 8 ( a ) shows a coil and a power supply unit according to a conventional technique
  • FIG. 8 ( b ) shows a coil and a power supply unit according to the present invention.
  • FIGS. 9 ( a ) and 9 ( b ) show an example of the waveform of a current pulse applied to a coil from a power source and an example of a measured acoustic signal generated thereby, wherein the example shown in FIG. 9 ( a ) is according to a conventional technique, and the example shown in FIG. 9 ( b ) is according to the present invention.
  • FIGS. 10 ( a ), 10 ( b ), and 10 ( c ) are diagrams showing waveforms in the time domain output by the acoustic transducers attached to the respective test blocks (A), (B), and (C) and measured by the measurement unit.
  • FIGS. 11 ( a ), 11 ( b ), and 11 ( c ) are diagrams showing waveforms in the time domain output by the acoustic transducers directly attached to reinforcing iron rods of the respective test blocks (A), (B), and (C) and measured by the measurement unit.
  • FIG. 12 is a table showing the shape factors SF and the crest factors CF for the respective test blocks (A), (B), and (C).
  • FIG. 13 ( a ) shows the envelope curves determined for the respective test blocks (A), (B), and (C), and FIG. 13 ( b ) shows the corresponding logarithmic inverse envelope curves.
  • FIGS. 14 ( a ), 14 ( b ), and 14 ( c ) respectively show the time-domain waveform, the normalized waveform, and the square of the normalized waveform, obtained for the test block (A).
  • FIGS. 15 ( a ) and 14 ( b ) respectively show the cube and the quartic of the normalized waveform of the test block (A).
  • FIGS. 16 ( a ), 16 ( b ), and 16 ( c ) respectively show the time-domain waveform, the normalized waveform, and the square of the normalized waveform, obtained for the test block (B).
  • FIGS. 17 ( a ) and 17 ( b ) respectively show the cube and the quartic of the normalized waveform of the test block (B).
  • FIGS. 18 ( a ), 18 ( b ), and 18 ( c ) respectively show the time-domain waveform, the normalized waveform, and the square of the normalized waveform, obtained for the test block (C).
  • FIGS. 19 ( a ) and 19 ( b ) respectively show the cube and the quartic of the normalized waveform of the test block (C).
  • FIGS. 20 ( a ), 20 ( b ), and 20 ( c ) respectively show frequency-domain waveforms of the test blocks (A), (B), and (C), determined from the time-domain waveforms determined in the third example for the test blocks (A), (B), and (C).
  • FIGS. 21 ( a ), 21 ( b ), and 21 ( c ) respectively show frequency-domain waveforms of the test blocks (A), (B), and (C), determined from the time-domain waveforms determined in the fourth example for the test blocks (A), (B), and (C).
  • FIG. 22 ( a ) is a diagram showing a method of measuring the diameter or the cover depth of a reinforcing iron rod according to the present invention
  • FIG. 22 ( b ) is a graph showing a measurement result.
  • FIGS. 23 ( a ) and 23 ( b ) are diagrams showing a method of diagnosing or measuring the secureness of a binding member, according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 23 ( a ) is a side view of a conductor 21 and a conductor 22 bound together via a bolt 22 and a nut 23 , and FIG. 23 ( b ) is a plan view thereof.
  • FIGS. 24 ( a ) to 24 ( d ) are diagrams showing a measurement result obtained when the bolt and the nut are securely fastened, wherein FIGS. 24 ( a ) and 24 ( b ) show output waveforms of an acoustic transducer 14 R attached to the conductor 21 located closer to a coil, and FIGS. 24 ( c ) and 24 ( d ) show output waveforms of an acoustic transducer 14 L attached to the conductor 22 bound with the conductor 21 by the bolt and the nut.
  • FIGS. 25 ( a ) to 25 ( d ) are diagrams showing a measurement result obtained when the bolt and the nut are in a loosely coupled state, wherein FIGS. 25 ( a ) and 25 ( b ) show output waveforms of the acoustic transducer 14 R attached to the conductor 21 located closer to a coil, and FIGS. 25 ( c ) and 25 ( d ) show output waveforms of the acoustic transducer 14 L attached to the conductor 22 bound with the conductor 21 by the bolt and the nut.
  • FIGS. 26 ( a ) and 26 ( b ) are diagrams showing a method of measuring the location of a conductor embedded in a non-conductive material
  • FIG. 26 ( a ) is a side view showing a manner in which an acoustic transducer 14 is attached to an exposed part 33 of a water pipe 32 buried in the ground 31 which is non-conductive, and a coil 12 is disposed on the surface 34 of ground 31
  • FIG. 26 ( b ) is a plan view thereof.
  • FIGS. 27 ( a ) to 27 ( c ) are graphs showing results of measurement of the location of a water pipe buried in the ground, wherein FIG. 27 ( a ) shows the waveform of an acoustic signal detected by the coil disposed exactly above the water pipe, FIG. 27 ( b ) shows a waveform detected by the coil disposed on the ground at a location 60 mm apart from the location exactly above the water pipe, FIG. 27 ( c ) shows a waveform detected by the coil disposed on the ground at a location 180 mm apart from the location exactly above the water pipe.
  • FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a method of diagnosing whether a conductor embedded in a non-conductive material has a fracture and a method of measuring the location of the fracture.
  • the structure including a conductor and a non-conductive material covering the conductor subjected to diagnosis/measurement is assumed to be a structure made of concrete reinforced with iron rods.
  • the apparatus of the present embodiment is capable of making diagnosis/measurement in terms of corrosion, adhesion, cover depth, and diameters of iron rods.
  • FIGS. 1 ( a ) and 1 ( b ) are conceptual diagrams showing the embodiment of the acoustic diagnosis/measurement apparatus using a pulse of electromagnetic force according to the present invention and the method therefor, wherein FIG. 1 ( a ) shows a manner in which an acoustic transducer is attached to a surface of concrete, and FIG. 1 ( b ) shows a manner in which the acoustic transducer is attached to an exposed part of an iron rod.
  • the acoustic diagnosis/measurement apparatus using a pulse of electromagnetic force 10 includes a coil of an electric wire 12 attached to a surface of a reinforced concrete block 11 which is a structure to be examined, a power supply unit 13 for applying a current pulse to the coil 12 , an acoustic transducer 14 attached to the surface of the reinforced concrete block 11 , and a measurement unit 15 connected to the acoustic transducer 14 via a signal cable 17 .
  • the coil 12 includes four coils each formed of 7 turns of a conductive wire with a diameter of, for example, 1.6 mm wound around a rectangular-shaped frame with a size of 50 mm ⁇ 30 mm wherein those four coils are disposed coaxially and closely.
  • the coil 12 is attached to the surface of the reinforced concrete block 11 to be examined.
  • the power supply unit 13 is designed to apply a current pulse to the coil 12 via a power cable 16 .
  • the power supply unit 13 may be constructed in various manners depending on the size of the reinforced concrete block 11 and the location of the reinforcing iron rod 11 a so that a desirable driving pulse is applied.
  • a known acoustic transducer may be employed to detect a weak vibration and convert the detected vibration into an electric signal.
  • the resultant electric signal is supplied to the measurement unit 15 via the signal cable 17 .
  • the measurement unit 15 for example, a commercially available apparatus known as acoustic analyzer may be employed.
  • the signal detected by the acoustic transducer 14 is amplified by an amplifier, and unnecessary components of the signal are removed by using a filter or the like. Acoustic analysis is then performed on the basis of the resultant signal.
  • Another apparatus may also be used as the measurement unit 15 .
  • an oscilloscope or similar equipment may be employed.
  • a current pulse is applied to the coil 12 , a magnetic field pulse is generated toward the inside of the reinforced concrete 11 , and the magnetic field pulse induces an eddy current in the reinforcing iron rod 11 a which is conductive.
  • a magnetic field is generated by the eddy current and it interacts with the magnetic field of the magnetic field pulse.
  • the reinforcing iron rod 11 a is oscillated.
  • the conductor 11 a is made of a magnetic material, reinforcing iron rod 11 a is further oscillated by a force associated with magnetic energy.
  • an acoustic wave is generated from the reinforcing iron rod 11 a .
  • the generated acoustic wave propagates to the surface and is detected by the acoustic transducer 14 .
  • the detected acoustic signal is converted into an electrical signal by the acoustic transducer 14 and supplied to the measurement unit 15 via the signal cable 17 .
  • the measurement unit 15 analyzes the waveform of the received electric signal to determine the degree of corrosion of the reinforcing iron rod 11 a or determine whether the concrete 11 b has a crack.
  • the acoustic wave generated by the reinforcing iron rod 11 a is absorbed by a corroded portion, and attenuation of the acoustic wave occurs, which results in a reduction in the amplitude of the waveform observed by the measurement unit 15 .
  • the amplitude of the waveform detected by the measurement unit 15 becomes small.
  • a crack in the concrete results in attenuation of the acoustic wave, and thus the amplitude of the waveform detected by the measurement unit 15 becomes small.
  • by comparing the amplitude of the acoustic wave it is possible to detect the degree of damage of the reinforced concrete 11 .
  • FIGS. 2 ( a ) and 2 ( b ) are diagrams showing the shape of a test sample of reinforced concrete used herein in the first example and also showing a measurement system, wherein FIG. 2 ( a ) is a plan view and FIG. 2 ( b ) is a side view thereof.
  • the test sample of reinforced concrete 11 includes rectangular-shaped concrete 11 b with a size of 200 mm ⁇ 150 mm ⁇ 100 mm and a reinforcing iron rod 11 a with a diameter of 13 mm embedded at a cover depth d of 30 mm measured from the upper surface of the concrete 11 b and at a distance of 57 mm from the lower surface.
  • the coil 12 is disposed on the surface of the reinforced concrete 11 at a location exactly above the reinforcing iron rod 11 a .
  • the acoustic transducers 14 a and 14 b are disposed on the surface of the reinforced concrete 11 , at symmetrical locations opposing each other via the reinforcing iron rod 11 a.
  • test sample of reinforced concrete with no crack in concrete 11 b normal test block
  • test sample of reinforced concrete with a crack extending in concrete 11 b and reaching a reinforcing iron rod 11 a test block with crack
  • Acoustic waves were detected by the acoustic transducers 14 a and 14 b and the waveforms were compared.
  • the coil 12 used herein was formed by winding 25 turns an electric wire with a diameter of 1.0 mm around a core with a size of 30 mm ⁇ 70 mm and had an internal resistance of 0.2 ⁇ .
  • a current pulse with a crest value of 1000 A and a width of 1.5 ms was applied to the coil 12 thereby exciting the reinforcing iron rod 11 a.
  • FIGS. 3 ( a ) and 3 ( b ) are diagrams showing measured acoustic waveforms, wherein an acoustic waveform observed for the normal block is shown in FIG. 3 ( a ) and an acoustic waveform observed for the cracked block is shown in FIG. 3 ( b ).
  • CH1 and CH2 denote output waveforms of the acoustic transducers 14 a and 14 b , respectively, and CH3 denotes the waveform of the current pulse.
  • the horizontal axis represents a time in units of 0.5 ms/div and the vertical axis represents the strength of the waveforms CH1 and CH2, wherein zero points of CH1 and CH2 are shifted from each other.
  • the crack significantly attenuates the acoustic wave generated by the reinforcing iron rod 11 a excited by the current pulse.
  • This apparatus is capable of measuring the location of a reinforcing iron rod in reinforced concrete.
  • FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing an acoustic diagnosis/measurement apparatus using a pulse of electromagnetic force according to the present invention and a corresponding method.
  • an acoustic location detector 20 includes a coil of an electric wire 12 attached to a surface of a reinforced concrete block 11 , a power supply unit 13 (similar to that shown in FIG. 1 , although not shown in FIG. 4 ) for applying a current pulse to the coil 12 , a plurality of acoustic transducers 14 ( 14 a , 14 b , and 14 c ) attached to the surface of the reinforced concrete block 11 , and a measurement unit 15 (similar to that shown in FIG. 1 although not shown in FIG. 4 ) connected to the acoustic transducers 14 via a signal cable 17 (similar to that shown in FIG. 1 although not shown in FIG. 4 ).
  • the plurality of acoustic transducers 14 are disposed around the coil 12 , and the coil 12 is excited by applying a current pulse thereto thereby generating an acoustic wave from the reinforcing iron rod 11 a .
  • the acoustic wave is detected and converted into electric signals by the respective acoustic transducers 14 , and the resultant electric signals are supplied to the measurement unit 15 .
  • the measurement unit 15 determines propagation delay times, that is, times needed for the acoustic wave to propagate from the acoustic wave source to the respective acoustic transducers 14 .
  • the propagation velocity of the acoustic wave in the concrete 11 b can be regarded to be substantially constant. Therefore, from the propagation velocity v and the delay times t, it is possible to determine, the distances r from the acoustic wave source to the respective acoustic transducer 14 , that is, the distances from the reinforcing iron rod 11 a to the respective acoustic transducer 14 . From those distances, it is possible to determine the location of the acoustic wave source, that is, the location of the reinforcing iron rod 11 a.
  • the reinforcing iron rod 11 a has the shape of a rod such as that shown in FIG. 4
  • the propagation delay times at various locations may be measured using a single acoustic transducer 14 in such a manner that the location of the acoustic transducer 14 is changed across the surface of the concrete 11 , an acoustic signal is generated at each location and the propagation delay time is measured.
  • FIG. 5 ( a ) to 5 ( c ) show the surface shape of reinforced concrete used in an embodiment and a method of producing the reinforced concrete, wherein FIG. 5 ( a ) shows the shape of a surface of the reinforced concrete, FIG. 5 ( b ) shows an outer frame used to form the reinforced concrete, and FIG. 5 ( c ) shows the external appearance of produced reinforced concrete. As shown in FIG.
  • the reinforced concrete used in this example was produced by pouring concrete into the outer frame, in the center of which a reinforcing iron rod 11 a covered, except for its center, with an elastic plastic sheet was disposed, so that only the central portion of the reinforcing iron rod 11 a was brought into contact with the concrete 11 b and the other portion was not in contact with the concrete 11 b .
  • a generated acoustic wave propagates into the concrete from the center of the reinforcing iron rod 11 a , and thus the acoustic wave source can be regarded as a point source.
  • the center of the reinforced concrete 11 was taken as the origin and the horizontal and vertical axes were taken as x and y axes, respectively.
  • the coil was disposed at the origin, and the location of the acoustic transducer was represented by coordinates (x, y).
  • the propagation delay time of the acoustic wave detected by the acoustic transducer was measured for various values of coordinates (x, y).
  • the exciting coil, the acoustic transducer, and the current pulse used herein are similar to those used in the first example.
  • FIG. 6 is a diagram showing propagation delay times in the reinforced concrete, measured at different distances from the acoustic wave source.
  • CH1 and CH2 denote acoustic waveforms detected by the acoustic transducer placed at coordinates ( ⁇ 1, 0) and (3, 2), respectively, shown in FIG. 5 ( a ), and CH3 denotes the waveform of the current pulse.
  • the horizontal axis represents the time in units of 0.1 ms/div and the vertical axis represent the voltage corresponding to the strength of the acoustic waveforms denoted by CH1 and CH2, wherein the zero point of the voltage axis for CH1 was shifted from that for CH2.
  • the acoustic waveform CH1 detected at a position near the acoustic wave source appears at substantially the same time as the current pulse rises.
  • the acoustic waveform CH2 detected at a position distant from the acoustic wave source appears after a rather large delay from the leading edge of the current pulse.
  • FIG. 7 is a graph showing a manner in which the velocity of an acoustic wave propagating through concrete is determined from propagation delay times measured at various distances from an acoustic wave source.
  • the distance from the acoustic wave source denotes the distance between each coordinate point shown in FIG. 6 ( a ) and the acoustic wave source.
  • the propagation delay time was measured in the same manner as described above with reference to FIG. 7 .
  • the velocity of the acoustic wave propagating through concrete can be regarded as constant.
  • the distance to the acoustic wave source can be determined from the propagation delay time described with reference with FIG. 6 and the velocity of the acoustic wave described with reference with FIG. 7 . If the distance to the acoustic wave source is measured at a large number of points, the location of the reinforcing iron rod can be given by a location which satisfies all measured distances.
  • the acoustic location detector using a pulse of electromagnetic force is capable of non-destructively detecting the location of a reinforcing iron rod.
  • This acoustic diagnosis/measurement apparatus is similar to the acoustic diagnosis/measurement apparatus 10 except that the acoustic transducer 14 is replaced by a surface displacement detector and a surface vibration of a structure 11 to be examined is detected instead of an acoustic wave.
  • any type of detector may be employed as the surface displacement detector as long as it is capable of measuring a small displacement, it is desirable to use a laser interferometer because precise and detailed diagnosis is possible by illuminating the entire surface of the structure 11 to be diagnosed with coherent laser light and detecting an interference pattern indicating the phase difference of a reflected light caused by the surface vibration of the structure 11 .
  • the coil and the power supply unit used in the acoustic diagnosis/measurement apparatus according to the present invention are described below.
  • FIG. 8 ( a ) shows a coil and a power supply unit according to a conventional technique
  • FIG. 8 ( b ) shows a coil and a power supply unit according to the present invention.
  • the coil is constructed in the form of a single piece of coil, and a current pulse is applied to the coil 12 in such a manner that the capacitor C is charged by an AC voltage V supplied from commercial electric power and the charge stored in the capacitor C is transferred to the coil 12 by turning on the switch SW which may be a mechanical switch or a semiconductor switch.
  • coils is divided into a plurality of subcoils 12 each having small inductance, and the subcoils 12 are disposed coaxially and closely such that magnetic fields generated by the respective coils are superimposed.
  • a capacitor C is connected in series to each subcoil, and four series circuits each consisting of one coil 12 and one capacitor C are connected in parallel to a common power supply V via a common switch SW which may be a mechanical switch or a semiconductor switch.
  • the coil in each series circuit has small inductance and the capacitor in each series circuit has small capacitance, and thus a current pulse with a small time constant can be supplied when the switch SW is turned on.
  • the magnetic field pulses generated by the respective coils are superimposed and thus a resultant overall magnetic pulse has a small pulse width and a large crest value.
  • FIGS. 9 ( a ) and 9 ( b ) show an example of the waveform of a current pulse applied to a coil from a power source and an example of a measured acoustic signal generated thereby, wherein the example shown in FIG. 9 ( a ) is according to a conventional technique, and the example shown in FIG. 9 ( b ) is according to the present invention.
  • the acoustic wave signal was measured using the acoustic diagnosis/measurement apparatus using a pulse of electromagnetic force according to the present invention.
  • Reinforced concrete including a reinforcing iron rod 13 D (deformed reinforcing iron rod with a diameter of 13 mm) with a cover depth d of 30 mm was used as a test sample.
  • the coil and the power supply constructed in the above-described manner according to the present invention are capable of supplying a current pulse with a much smaller pulse width and a much larger height than can be achieved by the conventional technique.
  • a waveform detected by the acoustic emission (AE) sensor that is, the output waveform of the acoustic transducer becomes much greater than can be achieved by the conventional technique.
  • a measurement unit used in the apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention is described below.
  • the measurement unit samples the output waveform of the acoustic transducer, converts the sampled value into digital data, stores the resultant digital data into a memory, performs a particular calculation on the digital data via a CPU according to a particular signal processing program, and stores the result into a memory or displays the result on a display.
  • the particular signal processing program includes a program of displaying a time-domain waveform of the output waveform, a program of calculating a frequency-domain waveform, that is, frequency spectrum obtained by performing a Fourier transform on the time-domain waveform of the output waveform, and other various signal processing programs which will be described later.
  • the sampling apparatus, the analog-to-digital converter, the memory, the CPU, and the display may be those which are commercially available.
  • the measurement unit constructed in the above described manner it is possible to measure the waveform in the time domain and display information associated with corrosion and/or adhesion. Furthermore, it is possible to extract a feature associated with corrosion and/or adhesion from the waveform in the time domain and display the extracted feature. It is also possible to calculate the waveform in the frequency domain, that is, the Fourier transform spectrum of the output waveform, extract a feature associated with corrosion and/or adhesion from the waveform in the frequency domain, and display information associated with corrosion and/or adhesion.
  • test blocks of reinforced concrete listed below were prepared and compared with each other.
  • test blocks were all produced using 13 D reinforcing iron rods (deformed reinforcing iron rods with a diameter of 13 mm) so as to have external dimensions of 200 mm ⁇ 150 mm ⁇ and 100 mm and a cover depth d of 30 mm.
  • a coil 12 and an acoustic transducer 14 were attached to a surface of each test block, and a current pulse with a crest value of 2000 A and a pulse width of 350 ⁇ s was applied to each coil 12 thereby exciting the reinforcing iron rod.
  • FIGS. 10 ( a ), 10 ( b ), and 10 ( c ) are diagrams showing waveforms in the time domain output by the acoustic transducers attached to the respective test blocks (A), (B), and (C) and measured by the measurement unit.
  • test block (B) having a crack a waveform having a rectangle-like shape having a symmetry axis and a vertex along the time axis was obtained.
  • test block (C) having substantially no adhesion between the reinforcing iron rod and the concrete, substantially no output waveform was observed.
  • a feature associated with corrosion and/or adhesion can be extracted from waveforms in the time domain also in a case in which an acoustic transducer (AE sensor) is attached to an exposed part of a reinforcing iron rod of reinforced concrete as shown in FIG. 1 ( b ).
  • AE sensor acoustic transducer
  • Test blocks similar to those used in the third example were used, and an experiment was performed in a similar manner to the example 3 except for the attaching location of each acoustic transducer.
  • FIGS. 11 ( a ), 11 ( b ), and 11 ( c ) are diagrams showing waveforms in the time domain output by the acoustic transducers directly attached to reinforcing iron rods of the respective test blocks (A), (B), and (C) and measured by the measurement unit.
  • test block (B) having a crack a waveform having a triangle-like shape having a symmetry axis and a vertex along the time axis was obtained.
  • test block (C) having substantially no adhesion between the reinforcing iron rod and the concrete
  • a waveform having a triangle-like shape having a symmetry axis and a vertex along the time axis was obtained, but the waveform has a long tail extending along the time axis. This is because adhesion between the reinforcing iron rod and the concrete was lost and a space was created between the reinforcing iron rod and the concrete, and thus a vibration of the reinforcing iron rod attenuates gradually. As a result, the vibration continues for a long time.
  • a process, performed by the measurement unit to extract a feature associated with corrosion and/or adhesion from the shape factor or the crest factor of the waveform in the time domain and display information whether or not there is a problem associated with corrosion and/or adhesion, is described below.
  • the shape factor SF and the crest factor CF were determined in accordance with above-described formulas (1) to (5) from the waveforms in the time domain measured in the example 3 for the respective test blocks (A), (B), and (C), and a comparison was made.
  • FIG. 12 is a table showing the shape factors SF and the crest factors CF for the respective test blocks (A), (B), and (C).
  • the shape factor SF and the crest factor CF significantly vary depending on the test blocks, that is, depending on the adhesion of the reinforcing iron rod.
  • the measurement unit calculates the shape factor SF and the crest factor CF of a structure to be examined in accordance with the signal processing program and compares the calculated shape factor SF and the crest factor CF with respect to threshold values predetermined as, for example, 1.50 for the shape factor and 5.50 for the crest factor in FIG. 12 . It is determined whether there is no problem depending on whether the shape factor or the crest factor of the structure under examination are greater than the corresponding threshold value, and information indicating whether or not there is a problem is displayed.
  • a process, performed by the measurement unit to determine a similarity factor by extracting a feature associated with corrosion and/or adhesion from the shape of the envelope curve of the waveform in the time domain and display information whether or not there is a problem associated with corrosion and/or adhesion, is described below.
  • the absolute value x i is determined for each data value of the waveform in the time domain.
  • the absolute values are put one after another in the same order as that in which the waveform was sampled, and an envelope curve which smoothly envelopes the series of the absolute values is calculated.
  • y i denote each data value of the envelope curve.
  • the envelope curves were determined from the waveforms in the time domain, determined in the example 3 for the respective test blocks (A), (B), and (C), and a comparison in terms of the similarity factor was performed.
  • FIG. 13 ( a ) shows the envelope curves determined for the respective test blocks (A), (B), and (C), and FIG. 13 ( b ) shows the corresponding logarithmic inverse envelope curves.
  • the logarithmic inverse envelope curve refers to an envelop curve for the logarithm value of the inverse of the probability P(y i ).
  • the envelope curves of the test blocks (B) and (C) are significantly different from that of the test block (A).
  • an envelope curve such as that for the test block (B) or (C) with respect to an envelope curve in an initial state such as that for the test block (A)
  • the measurement unit calculates the envelope curve, the logarithmic inverse envelope curve, and the similarity factor and compares the similarity factor with the predetermined threshold value. Depending on whether the similarity factor is greater than or equal to or smaller than the threshold value, information indicating whether or not there is a problem is displayed.
  • the measurement unit may extract a feature associated with corrosion and/or adhesion from a normalized waveform obtained by dividing each value of a waveform in the time domain by the effective value of the waveform or from a waveform obtained by exponentiating the normalized waveform whereby information associated with the corrosion and/or adhesion may be displayed. This technique is described in further detail below.
  • the normalized waveform can be obtained by dividing the data value X i of the waveform in the time domain by the effective value x rms given by formula (2).
  • the normalized waveform and the exponentiation of the waveform thereof are calculated for the respective test blocks (A), (B), and (C) from the time-domain waveforms measured in the example 3 for the respective test blocks (A), (B), and (C).
  • FIGS. 14 ( a ), 14 ( b ), and 14 ( c ) respectively show the time-domain waveform, the normalized waveform, and the square of the normalized waveform, obtained for the test block (A).
  • FIGS. 15 ( a ) and 15 ( b ) respectively show the cube and the quartic of the normalized waveform of the test block (A).
  • FIGS. 16 ( a ), 16 ( b ), and 16 ( c ) respectively show the time-domain waveform, the normalized waveform, and the square of the normalized waveform, obtained for the test block (B).
  • FIGS. 17 ( a ) and 17 ( b ) respectively show the cube and the quartic of the normalized waveform of the test block (B).
  • FIGS. 18 ( a ), 18 ( b ), and 18 ( c ) respectively show the time-domain waveform, the normalized waveform, and the square of the normalized waveform, obtained for the test block (C).
  • FIGS. 19 ( a ) and 19 ( b ) respectively show the cube and the quartic of the normalized waveform of the test block (C).
  • the normalized waveform and the exponentiation of the waveform thereof indicate more clearly the difference in the degree of corrosion and/or adhesion among the test blocks (A), (B), and (C) than can be indicated by the time-domain waveform.
  • the waveforms obtained by means of a high-order exponentiation significantly differ depending on the degree of corrosion and/or adhesion.
  • the measurement unit extracts a feature by calculating the normalized waveform and the exponentiation of the waveform thereof from the time-domain waveform, determines, on the basis of comparison with threshold values, whether or not there is a problem associated with corrosion and/or adhesion, and displays the result.
  • the measurement unit may extract a feature associated with corrosion and/or adhesion from a frequency-domain waveform and may display information indicating whether or not there is a problem associated with corrosion and/or adhesion, as described in detail below.
  • the frequency-domain waveform is determined by the measurement unit by performing a Fourier transform on a time-domain waveform in accordance with the signal processing program.
  • the frequency-domain waveform is determined by performing a Fourier transform on each of the time-domain waveforms determined in the third or fourth example for the test blocks (A), (B), and (C), and the resultant frequency-domain waveforms of the test blocks (A), (B), and (C) are compared with each other.
  • FIGS. 20 ( a ), 20 ( b ), and 20 ( c ) respectively show frequency-domain waveforms of the test blocks (A), (B), and (C), determined from the time-domain waveforms determined in the third example for the test blocks (A), (B), and (C).
  • the frequency spectrum includes components distributed randomly and substantially continuously in a frequency range of 20 kHz to 80 kHz.
  • test block (C) in which adhesion of a reinforcing iron rod was lost, as can be seen from FIG. 20 ( c ), particular frequency components appear at particular intervals, although the tendency is not strong compared with the text block (B).
  • Another feature of this test block (C) is that the frequency-domain waveform includes a large component near 150 kHz.
  • FIGS. 20 ( a ) and 20 ( b ) The difference between FIGS. 20 ( a ) and 20 ( b ), that is, between the text block (A) and the test block (B) is very great. This makes it possible to easily detect the difference even in the case in which the difference cannot be easily detected from the time-domain waveforms.
  • FIGS. 21 ( a ), 21 ( b ), and 21 ( c ) respectively show frequency-domain waveforms of the test blocks (A), (B), and (C), determined from the time-domain waveforms determined in the fourth example for the test blocks (A), (B), and (C) by using the acoustic transducers attached directly to reinforcing iron rods.
  • the measurement unit calculates the frequency-domain waveform from a time-domain waveform and compares the resultant frequency-domain waveform with a reference pattern thereby determining the similarity. The similarity is then compared with a threshold value of similarity. Depending on whether the similarity is equal to or smaller than the threshold value, it is determined whether or not there is a problem, and information indicating the result is displayed.
  • the measurement unit may determine the normalized waveform or the exponentiation of the normalized waveform from a frequency-domain waveform in a similar manner as described above with reference to the sixth or seventh example, and may perform a high-sensitive extraction of a feature associated with corrosion and/or adhesion using the normalized waveform or the exponentiation of the normalized waveform. Furthermore, the similarity factor may be calculated from the normalized waveform or the exponentiation of the normalized waveform, and the resultant similarity factor may be compared with a predetermined threshold value thereby performing a high-sensitive detection of whether the similarity factor of a structure under examination is equal to or smaller than the threshold value. In accordance with the result, information indicating whether or not there is a problem is displayed.
  • FIG. 22 ( a ) is a diagram showing a method of measuring the diameter or the cover depth of a reinforcing iron rod according to the present invention
  • FIG. 22 ( b ) is a graph showing a measurement result.
  • a coil 12 is attached to a surface of reinforced concrete 11 , at a location exactly above a reinforcing iron rod 11 a , and an acoustic transducer 14 is attached to the surface of the reinforced concrete 11 .
  • the reinforcing iron rod 11 a is then excited by a magnetic field pulse generated by the coil 12 , thereby generating an acoustic signal from the reinforcing iron rod 11 a .
  • the acoustic signal is converted into an electric signal by the acoustic transducer 14 and supplied to a measurement unit 15 .
  • the measurement unit 15 extracts a feature value such as the peak-to-peak value of the crest value of the acoustic signal.
  • the diameter of the reinforcing iron rod can be determined from the extracted feature value and the cover depth d on the basis of the predetermined correspondence among the feature value, the diameter of reinforcing iron rod, and the cover depth.
  • the cover depth d can be determined in accordance with the technique disclosed in claim 2 of the present invention.
  • the cover depth d is determined from the detected feature value and the diameter of the reinforcing iron rod on the basis of the predetermined correspondence among the feature value, the diameter of the reinforcing iron rod, and the cover depth.
  • the vertical axis represents the feature value.
  • the peak-to-peak value of the crest value is employed as the feature value.
  • the horizontal axis represents the cover depth d.
  • the dependence of the feature value on the cover depth d was determined for various diameters of the reinforcing iron rods 10 d , 13 d , 16 d , 19 d , and 25 d (deformed reinforcing iron rods with diameters of 10 mm, 13 mm, 16 mm, 19 mm, and 25 mm).
  • the feature value depends on both the diameter of the reinforcing iron rod and the cover depth d.
  • the cover depth d it is possible to determine the cover depth d or the diameter of the reinforcing iron rod.
  • a method of diagnosing/measuring whether a binding member is securely fastened according to claim 19 of the present invention is described below.
  • FIGS. 23 ( a ) and 23 ( b ) are diagrams showing a method of diagnosing or measuring the secureness of a binding member, according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 23 ( a ) is a side view of a conductor 21 and a conductor 22 bound together via a bolt 23 and a nut 24 , and FIG. 23 ( b ) is a plan view thereof.
  • a coil 12 is disposed exactly above the bolt 22 binding the conductor 21 , and acoustic transducers 14 R and 14 L are attached to the surfaces of the respective conductors 21 and 22 . If a magnetic filed pulse is generated by the coil 12 , an eddy current is induced in the surface of the conductor 21 and a magnetic field generated by the eddy current interacts with the magnetic field of the magnetic field pulse whereby the conductor 21 is oscillated.
  • Two aluminum plates (200 ⁇ 300 ⁇ 3t) were bound with six sets of stainless steel bolts ad nuts (M10 ⁇ 15).
  • a current pulse with a crest value of 2000 A and a pulse width of 350 ⁇ s was applied to the coil.
  • FIGS. 24 ( a ) to 24 ( d ) shows a measurement result obtained when the bolts and nuts were in a securely fastened state
  • FIGS. 24 ( a ) and 24 ( b ) show output waveforms of the acoustic transducer 14 R attached to the conductor 21 facing the coil
  • FIGS. 24 ( c ) and 24 ( d ) show output waveforms of the acoustic transducer 14 L attached to the conductor 22 bound with the conductor 21 using the bolts and nuts.
  • FIGS. 24 ( a ) and 24 ( c ) show waveforms obtained by passing the original output waveforms of the acoustic transducer through a bandpass (BP) filter (having a passband of 20 kHz to 500 kHz) thereby removing frequency components lower than 20 kHz, while FIGS. 24 ( b ) and 24 ( d ) show waveforms including whole frequency components up to 500 kHz.
  • BP bandpass
  • the output waveform of the acoustic transducer 14 L is substantially equal to that of the acoustic transducer 14 R.
  • FIGS. 25 ( a ) to 25 ( d ) are diagrams showing a measurement result obtained when the bolt and the nut are in a loosely coupled state, wherein FIGS. 25 ( a ) and 25 ( b ) show output waveforms of the acoustic transducer 14 R attached to the conductor 21 located closer to a coil, and FIGS. 25 ( c ) and 25 ( d ) show output waveforms of the acoustic transducer 14 L attached to the conductor 22 bound with the conductor 21 by the bolt and the nut. Note that FIGS.
  • FIGS. 25 ( a ) and 25 ( c ) show waveforms obtained by passing the original output waveforms of the acoustic transducer through a bandpass (BP) filter (having a passband of 20 kHz to 500 kHz) thereby removing frequency components lower than 20 kHz, while FIGS. 25 ( b ) and 25 ( d ) show waveforms including whole frequency components up to 500 kHz.
  • BP bandpass
  • the output waveform of the acoustic transducer 14 L is smaller in amplitude than that of the acoustic transducer 14 R.
  • this method of the present invention makes it possible to diagnose or measure whether a binding member is securely fastened.
  • This method can also be used to detect a crack in a honeycomb structure used in a bridge or the like. Furthermore, the method can also be used to determine whether connection is well welded.
  • a method of measuring the location of a conductor embedded in a non-conductive material according to the present invention is described below.
  • FIGS. 26 ( a ) and 26 ( b ) are diagrams showing a method of measuring the location of a conductor embedded in a non-conductive material
  • FIG. 26 ( a ) is a side view showing a manner in which an acoustic transducer 14 is attached to an exposed part 33 of a water pipe 32 buried in the ground 31 which is non-conductive, and a coil 12 is disposed on the surface 34 of ground 31
  • FIG. 26 ( b ) is a plan view thereof.
  • a magnetic field pulse is generated by the coil 12 , an eddy current is induced in the surface of the water pipe 32 , and the water pipe 32 is oscillated as a result of interaction between the magnetic field associated with the eddy current and the magnetic field of the magnetic field pulse.
  • An acoustic wave generated by the oscillation of the water pipe 32 propagates to the exposed part 33 of the water pipe 32 and is detected by the acoustic transducer 14 .
  • the strength of the acoustic signal becomes highest when the coil 12 is put at a location exactly above the water pipe 32 .
  • FIGS. 27 ( a ) to 27 ( c ) are graphs showing results of measurement of the location of a water pipe buried in the ground, wherein FIG. 27 ( a ) shows the waveform of an acoustic signal detected by the coil disposed exactly above the water pipe, FIG. 27 ( b ) shows a waveform detected by the coil located 60 mm apart from the location exactly above the water pipe, FIG. 27 ( c ) shows a waveform detected by the coil located 180 mm apart from the location exactly above the water pipe.
  • the strength of the acoustic signal becomes highest when the coil is located exactly above the water pipe the strength of the acoustic signal decreases with the distance between the coil and the position exactly above the water pipe.
  • the location of the coil is changed and the location at which the acoustic signal becomes highest is determined, the location of the water pipe must be exactly below the location at which the acoustic signal becomes highest.
  • a method of determining whether a conductor embedded in a non-conductive material has a fracture and/or determining the location of such a fracture according to the present invention is described below.
  • FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a method of diagnosing whether a conductor embedded in a non-conductive material has a fracture and a method of measuring the location of the fracture.
  • An acoustic transducer 14 is attached to an exposed part 43 of a reinforcing iron rod 42 embedded in reinforced concrete 41 with an elongated shape.
  • a coil 12 is attached to a surface of the elongated reinforced concrete 41 .
  • An eddy current is induced in the surface of a reinforcing iron rod by generating a magnetic field pulse from the coil 12 .
  • the reinforcing iron rod 42 is excited by the interaction between the magnetic field associated with the eddy current and the magnetic field of the magnetic field pulse.
  • An acoustic wave is generated by the excited reinforcing iron rod 42 and propagates through the reinforcing iron rod 42 .
  • the acoustic wave propagating through the reinforcing iron rod 42 is detected by the acoustic transducer 14 attached to the exposed part 43 of the reinforcing iron rod 42 . If the reinforcing iron rod 42 has a fracture at some location 44 , the strength of the detected acoustic signal is small, and thus the reinforcing iron rod 42 can be regarded as having a fracture.
  • the location 44 of the fracture can be determined.
  • the present invention makes it possible to determine whether a reinforcing iron rod has a fracture and further determine the location of such a fracture.
  • a conductor in a structure including the conductor and a non-conductive material covering the conductor can be directly and strongly excited by a pulse of electromagnetic force.
  • a pulse of electromagnetic force for example, when a reinforcing iron rod in reinforced concrete is excited, a very large acoustic signal, which is influenced by corrosion and/or adhesion of the reinforcing iron rod, is obtained.
  • This makes it possible to non-destructively and precisely diagnose/measure the location, corrosion, adhesion strength, and/or rust of the reinforcing iron rod and further a separation or a crack of the concrete, regardless of the thickness of the concrete and regardless of the degree of degradation.
  • acoustic diagnosis/measurement using a pulse of electromagnetic force of the present invention it is possible to measure the cover depth of a reinforcing iron rod and/or the diameter of reinforcing iron rod. Furthermore it is also possible to determine whether a binding member such as a set of a bolt and a nut is securely fastened. The location of a water pipe or a gas pipe buried in the ground can also be detected. It is also possible to determine whether a reinforcing iron rod has a fracture. Such diagnosis/measurement can be performed easily and in a highly reliable fashion.

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US20090018432A1 (en) * 2005-05-11 2009-01-15 Bin He Methods and apparatus for imaging with magnetic induction
US9411033B2 (en) * 2005-05-11 2016-08-09 Regents Of The University Of Minnesota Methods and apparatus for imaging with magnetic induction
US20130142213A1 (en) * 2010-01-08 2013-06-06 Fabien Barberon Method for measuring corrosion in a concrete building
US20130098138A1 (en) * 2010-05-21 2013-04-25 Warren Questo Sonic resonator system which applies a rarefaction wave to a composite structure at a specific location to test bond strength
US8756997B2 (en) * 2010-05-21 2014-06-24 Sonipulse, Inc. Sonic resonator system which applies a rarefaction wave to a composite structure at a specific location to test bond strength
US8316712B2 (en) 2010-11-19 2012-11-27 Margan Physical Diagnostics Ltd. Quantitative acoustic emission non-destructive inspection for revealing, typifying and assessing fracture hazards
US8534132B1 (en) 2010-11-19 2013-09-17 Charles L. Purdy Method for measuring tension in an anchored rod at an accessible end
US20120169359A1 (en) * 2010-12-29 2012-07-05 The Board Of Trustees Of The University Of Alabama For And On Behalf Of The University Of Alabama Method and system for testing an electric circuit
US8742777B2 (en) * 2010-12-29 2014-06-03 The Board Of Trustees Of The University Of Alabama For And On Behalf Of The University Of Alabama Method and system for testing an electric circuit
US11360051B2 (en) 2018-03-20 2022-06-14 Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Hanyang University Erica Campus Construction structure corrosion measurement sensor assembly and method for measuring corrosion by using same
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